Geoscience, M.S., Ph.D.

Saint Louis University’s graduate programs in geoscience can prepare you for careers
in private industry and government agencies.

About the Program

SLU offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in geoscience and has long boasted a strength in
seismology and geophysics. The program recently expanded its research expertise to
include the interdisciplinary area of environmental science and remote sensing.

Concentrations are available in geology, geophysics and environmental geoscience in
the master’s program and geophysics and environmental geoscience in the Ph.D. program.

About the Department

SLU’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences has a tradition of combining strong
classroom and field-based instruction with internationally recognized research. Our
work encompasses a broad spectrum of the physical sciences, including seismology and
solid earth geophysics, tectonics, synoptic meteorology, environmental systems and
the study of modern and ancient climate change.

Master of Science in Geoscience

The M.S. program prepares students for careers in private industry and government
agencies or for further advanced studies. The non-thesis option requires 33 credit
hours to complete; the thesis option requires 24 credit hours to complete, plus six
credit hours of thesis credit.

Doctor of Philosophy in Geoscience

The Ph.D. program prepares students for careers in academic research, teaching, government
or industrial research environments. A minimum of 48 credit hours of preparation is
required when the doctorate is pursued directly from the baccalaureate.

More than 80 percent of SLU geoscience graduate students are supported through fellowships
or grants. External grant funding typically runs more than $500,000 per year. The
main funding agencies are the U.S. Geological Survey, National Science Foundation,
Defense Threat Reduction Agency and Department of Energy.

Assistantship and Application Deadlines

Students who want to be considered for an assistantship must submit their applications
by Feb. 1.

U.S. students should apply for the fall semester by July 1 and for the spring semester
by Nov. 1. International students should apply for the fall semester by May 1 and
for the spring semester by Oct. 1.

Review Process

Faculty committee members examine qualified applicants' materials and make recommendations.